AFLW 2024 - Round 8 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
I totally agree. Stevens on Franklin when playing in the forward 50. An Otten or similar when he plays up the field.
Deserves? Please explain. It should be a strategic decision based on the best person for the job, not on what someone deserves. We want to win this game. Davis will not have the speed to keep up with the likes of Franklin. Davis is not Bock. I remember Massie deserved a chance on playing on Franklin due to a previous game....and we all remember how that ended. Keep it tactical, not personal.
Starting Massie on Franklin was an "interesting" decision, but one which was defensible on the basis that Massie had done a number on him not that long ago (albeit aided by the elements - night time & bucket loads of rain). You could reasonably argue that he "deserved" to have first crack at Franklin based on previous performance. What wasn't defensible was leaving him there when it became readily apparent to all & sundry that Franklin was having a day out and this match-up was a disaster waiting to happen.
Vader, I appreciate and probably expected this response. I was not trying to have a dig at Craig or his coaching antics. I like the guy, and truly want to see him stay on.Starting Massie on Franklin was an "interesting" decision, but one which was defensible on the basis that Massie had done a number on him not that long ago (albeit aided by the elements - night time & bucket loads of rain). You could reasonably argue that he "deserved" to have first crack at Franklin based on previous performance. What wasn't defensible was leaving him there when it became readily apparent to all & sundry that Franklin was having a day out and this match-up was a disaster waiting to happen.
I'd like to think that Craig's tactical nous has improved since those days - and that he might be a bit quicker to make the change once it becomes apparent that it's not working. We do have other options, so if one option isn't working there's no reason not to try something else.
Then again, Craig's gameday tactics have always been the biggest flaw in his coaching record.
Massie was actually a really clever match for Franklin on that first occasion and it had nothing to do with the unpredictability factor. The weather eliminated Franklin's advantage overhead and Massie destroyed him at ground level. Given the conditions, it was an inspired move. The weather conditions in the final were very different, they made the match-up about as smart as Rohan Smith on Matthew Robran in the 1998 Preliminary Final.I am not sure Massie did truly deserve another shot. The whole surprise factor is what won us the initial game. It is like throwing Shane Ellen in as Full Forward. It throws the other team out. However do it again, and the surprise factor is gone. The exception is Rutten on Tredders. Always good to see Rutten kick a goal while playing full back
I think Davis is better suited to Franklin than you give him credit for. As someone pointed out, he's actually 1cm taller, so he should be able to combat Franklin overhead. He's also a very smart footballer, who knows how to get to the fall of the ball and always times his spoils to perfection.
selective logic comes with your BF membership
Im interested to know though, as I said, for obvious reasons Ive never watched it a second time. Was massie carved up in the way you would expect a tall to dominate a medium sized defender? Taking big clunks over his head and lining up from 30? Not really buddys style.
Or was he on the end of some short passing outside 50, with a two step head start and then dobbing them from long range... in the type of manner that wouldnt matter who played on him....?
I did, however I really don't understand how you and Vader think Davis is versatile enough for Franklin.
Where did I say that it was a great move "regardless of the conditions"? I said that it was a great move regardless of the "unpredictability factor" (ie the fact that Hawthorn would not have expected or planned for a Massie/Franklin pairing). It was the weather conditions (in the H&A game) which made it such a great move. We all saw what happened in the return bout when the conditions were completely different..
